Friedman



Jan. 31, 1956 H. FRIEDMAN INTERLOCKING PRE-CAST BUILDING BLOCKS FiledAug. 23, 1952 INVENTOR.

HERMAN FRIEDMAN INTERLOCKING PRE-CAST BUILDING BLOCKS HermanFriedmamHollywood, Fla. Application August 23, 1952, Serial No. 305,9852 Claims. (CI. 72-38) This invention relates to new in interlockingbuilding blocks.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of animproved building block which can be economically pre-cast of concreteand laid without mortar or cement one block on another withoutstaggering and which when so laid can be interlocked block by block bythe mere driving in of an interlocking wedge.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the buildingblocks with deep spaced recesses and projections having grooves adaptedto receive an interlocking wedge or key and a plurality of mating maleplugs and female sockets on the blocks so thatthe blocks can be securedinterlocked.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructand usefulimprovements ing the building blocks so that when laid one upon the nother they will fit together in such a way as to provide a maximumofstrength to the wall surface formed of such blocks.

As a further object, the present invention proposes arranging theinterlocking wedge or key receiving grooves at the sides of the blocksso that wedges can be driven conveniently as the blocks are laid and theexterior appearance of the blocks will not be changed or marred.

The present invention further proposes a novel arangement of thebuilding block structure which can be used either in straight or flushblocks or in siding blocks.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of two building blocks constructed andarranged and fastened together in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking wedge or key shown in Fig. 1and Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of thewedge.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a single block illustrating amodification of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a furthermodification of the present invention.

The building blocks, in accordance with the first form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is shown with two blocks in interlockedposition and locked together by locking wedges or keys 16.

Blocks 15 may be made of any material but are particularly adapted to bepre-cast easily and economically of concrete. Each block is generallyrectangular in shape having exterior facing sides 17 and 18 and interiorends or sides 19 and 20 which abut the adjacent blocks and are therebyconcealed as a line or wall of blocks are laid.

2 Each block 15 has an upper face 21 and a lower face 22 with upstandingprojections or projection tongues .23 extending from the upper face 21and corresponding recesses 24 in the lower face 22 to receive theprojections 23 of the block below.

In addition, a plurality of spaced openings or female sockets 25' areformed in the upper face 21 of each block and mating male plugs 26correspondingly spaced extended from the lower face 22 of each block.When one block is laid on top of another, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, themale plugs 26 of the upper blocks are seated in the spaced openings orfemale sockets 25 in the upper face 21 of the lower block and theupstanding projections 23 extending from the upper face of the lowerblock are seated in the corresponding recesses 24 in the lower face 22of the upper block. The blocks fit tightly together with no space leftfor mortar or cement, which is unnecessary in the laying of theseblocks. Likewise it is not necessary to stagger the blocks, they can belaid one upon the other, although they may be staggered if desired, asis apparent from Figs. 1 and 2.

Locking grooves 27 are provided in the outwardly facing sides 28 of theupstanding projections 23 on each block and corresponding lockinggrooves 29 are formed in the inwardly facing side walls 30 in therecesses 24 in the lower face 22 of each block. When the blocks are laidone on the other and the projections 23 are seated in the recesses 24,the locking grooves 27 and 29 of each recess and projection seatedtherein are aligned to receive a locking wedge or key 16. The wedges orkeys 16 are driven in the grooves 27 and 29 from the side as the blocksare laid.

The locking wedges or keys 16 are rectangular bars but a channel shapedlocking wedge or key 31 as shown in Fig. 4 may be substituted to reducematerial costs. The locking wedges when driven in extend laterally ofthe blocks holding the blocks together and reinforcing them laterally.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 5 is characterized by the provisionof deep projection seating recesses 32 and shallower projections 33further to reduce costs without substantially impairing the strength ofthe block.

Either plain, straight or flush blocks may be constructed and arrangedin accordance with the present invention or siding blocks such as block34 shown in Fig. 6. The modification of the present inventionillustrated in Fig. 6 is characterized by the provision of a block 35having two oppositely disposed faces 36 and 37 and a pair of spacedprojections 38 and 39 extending substantially above one of the faces,the upwardly disposed face 26. A pair of corresponding spaced recesses40 and 41 are provided in the face 37 and a keyway groove 42 is formedin the like sides 43 and 44 of each of the projections 38 and 39respectively. The grooves 42 extend lengthwise of the projections andsubstantially parallel to the faces 36 and 37. Keyway grooves 45,preferably like grooves 42 are provided in the sidewalls 46 and 47 ofthe recesses 40 and 41 respectively, these sidewalls 46 and 47corresponding to the grooved sides 43 and 44 of the projections 38 and39.

In addition, face 36 of block 35 is provided with a plurality of spacedfemale sockets 49.

The upper siding block 34 shown in Fig. 6 has a pair of projectionseating recesses 50 in its lower face 51 and keyway grooves 52 insidewalls 53 and 54 of these recesses. The keyway grooves 52 align withgrooves 42 in the projections on block 35 and a key 55 is driven in eachset of aligning grooves to lock the blocks together, the blocks beingheld in alignment by male plugs 56 extending from the lower face 51 ofblock 35 into the female sockets 49 on block 35.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appendeed claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A building block structure comprising two superposed blocks eachhaving an upper face and a lower face, projections extending from theupper faces and recesses in the lower faces complemental to saidprojections, a locking keyway groove in one side of each projectiondisposed substantially parallel to said faces, and a keyway groove inone sidewall of each recess complemental to the keyway groove in eachprojection, the projections on the upper face of the lower block beingseated in the recesses in the lower face of the upper block and thekeyway groove in each recess sidewall aligned with the keyway groove inthe projection seated therein, and a locking key in the aligned grooveslocking the blocks together, the lower face of each of said blocks alsohaving a plurality of spaced male plugs perpendicular to said groovesand the upper face of each block having a plurality of like spacedfemale sockets, the male plugs on the upper block being seated in thefemale sockets in the lower block to provide an interlock between theblocks.

2. A building block structure comprising two superposed blocks, eachhaving a square body having top,

bottom and side face portions, vertical longitudinal projectionsextending upwardly from the top face portion and extending from end toend thereof, said projections being spaced inwardly from the side faceportions thereof and having horizontally disposed key grooves in theirsides extending the length of the projections, said body having verticalgrooves in the bottom face portion thereof corresponding in depth andwidth to the height and width of said projections, the walls of saidlatter grooves having horizontal key grooves midway the height thereofextending the length of said walls, said top face portion having spacedsockets intermediate the projections and outwardly thereof, and verticalplugs projecting from the bottom face portion and being shaped andspaced to correspond to the shape and spacing of the sockets in the topface portion, said key grooves being in aligned position in thesuperposed blocks, and key members in said aligned key grooves toprevent separation of the blocks, said top and bottom face portions whencontacting in said superposed blocks concealing the plugs and socketsfrom view.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,351,133 Scharwath Aug. 31, 1920 1,459,189 Swanson June 19, 19231,465,421 Clouser et al. Aug. 21, 1923 1,652,305 Frewen Dec. 13, 19271,667,160 Kleinfeldt Apr. 24, 1928 2,201,110 Makram May 14, 19402,460,330 Baccaro Feb. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,608 Switzerland of1896 493,210 France of 1919

